Sheriff Ray Compton was shot and killed while he and two deputies attempted to serve warrants on a man for illegally operating stills and selling liquor.

   They were met at the door of the farmhouse by the 18-year-old wife of the suspect, who stalled while her husband ran upstairs before he fired twice, striking Sheriff Compton.

   The 35-year-old suspect escaped but later died by suicide after being involved in a shootout with Cincinnati, Ohio, police officers. At the time Sheriff Compton was killed, the suspect was wanted for several homicides committed in Iowa and Missouri.

   Sheriff Compton, a Republican from Rushville, was in the second year of his second, two-year term in office and survived by his wife, 15-year-old daughter, parents, brother and sister.

   Clarence "Ed" Compton (1882–1970), his uncle and a deputy with the department, was appointed sheriff to serve the remainder of his nephew's term.

Read more on our research at Honoring Our Fallen Sheriffs.